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Editorial

Sending the right message

With firings, other discipline, chief sets troubled firehouse in order

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The Columbus Fire Division has dealt appropriately with a sex scandal by derailing an attempted
cover-up, telling the public the truth and holding people accountable.

Chief Gregory A. Paxton recently fired Firefighter Marc Cain, a 24-year veteran of the
department, for “dishonesty, insubordination and failure of good behavior.” A few days earlier, the
chief recommended demoting Cain’s supervisor, Battalion Chief Gerald C. Birkhimer, for contributing
to the cover-up; he also faces a six-week suspension.

Columbus Public Safety Director Mitchell J. Brown has signed off on Cain’s firing and should
uphold Birkhimer’s punishment.

These actions defend high standards in the division. They put an end to a disgraceful episode.
And they restore the public’s trust and regard for the many honorable men and women who serve in
this division.

This could have turned out far differently, however.

Fire officials first began investigating Cain, 48, a year ago in April after a young woman said
they’d had sex in his room at a Hilltop fire station. Investigators initially couldn’t find any
reason to pursue their probe — and that was no surprise. They had worked with Cain at Station 17
before moving to headquarters.

The conflict of interest was obvious. Paxton reassigned those who were in a position to
compromise the probe, including top officials suspected of tipping off witnesses. He then installed
an impartial investigator. And then, just to make sure everyone behaved, he moved the probe’s
headquarters next door to the chief’s office at the Fire Academy.

The resulting six-month investigation found a stunning breakdown of discipline and command
responsibility in this corner of the division. With great courage, firefighters stepped forward to
tell the truth, despite threats of retaliation.

Investigators found that Birkhimer was unable to discipline Cain because he was similarly
implicated in an improper relationship with a female firefighter, whom he supervised.

And other unsavory details began to emerge: The young woman, who said she was 18 when the affair
began, had tried to kill herself and ended up seriously injured in a hospital. She then supplied
the Fire Division with a cellphone photo Cain had sent her, which proved an intimate
relationship.

Cain’s story changed, and changed again.

As the investigation widened, fire administrators realized they weren’t dealing with just a sex
scandal and a tragic young woman; they’d unraveled a culture of dishonesty and
unprofessionalism.

And the bigger question was, how had this gone unreported for years?

The answer is that many firefighters had believed nothing would happen to the wrongdoers. The
investigation and the swift discipline that followed provide strong assurance that such behavior
indeed will be dealt with seriously.

Cain could still get his job back; he is appealing his firing to the Civil Service Commission.
But that outcome would undermine the respect, trust and discipline upon which lives hinge in a
high-risk job.

These disciplinary actions send a strong message that Cain and Birkhimer are not — and never
will be — representative of the many dedicated professionals of the Fire Division who put
themselves at risk to save others.